CITY HALL -- Councilman Steven Matteo is teaming up with
Where To Turn and the Richmond County Savings Foundation to try to wipe clean
graffiti on Staten Island.

"We all know, when graffiti vandals tag buildings, homes,
fences, the best thing to do is to try to get it removed as quickly as
possible," Matteo (R-Mid-Island) said.

To that end, he announced Thursday a partnership with Where
To Turn, an Island-based crisis relief nonprofit to remove graffiti. The Richmond County Savings
Foundation donated $5,000 to fund the cleanup initiative, Matteo said, and Where to Turn volunteers will do the repainting.

The NYPD's Community Assistance Unit also removes graffiti,
Matteo said, but it can take time -- the unit must cover the entire city.

"Having a group that is willing to go out there three
weekends a month, it can be successful," Matteo said.

Matteo thanked Where to Turn for handling the work and
Richmond County Savings Foundation "for its incredible generosity by donating
to this effort."

"We
are extremely happy to be working with our local elected officials and our
police precincts to combat graffiti," Dennis McKeon, executive director of
Where to Turn, said in a statement. "I want to give particular thanks to
Councilman Matteo and the Richmond County Savings Foundation for securing these
funds. We also hope to work with our local judges to once again require
convicted taggers to do community service through our programs."

Residents can report locations that need graffiti removal to
Matteo's office, either by emailing smatteo@council.nyc.gov
or called in to his office at 718-980-1017.

Matteo recently talked graffiti -- particularly on the new
sound barriers of the Staten Island Expressway -- with Police Commissioner William
Bratton.

Where to Turn has said they'd be happy to remove the
graffiti on the expressway, so Matteo is working to secure approval and paint
from the state Department of Transportation.